To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Parking Offences: Appeals
Thursday 14th February 2019

Asked by: Viscount Astor (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the proposals contained within the Parking (Code of Practice) Bill, what plans they have to introduce a single appeals service for the private parking sector.

Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

The Government is supportive of the Parking (Code of Practice) Bill, which we believe will get the fairest deal for motorists, operators and landowners. Our current intention is to appoint a single appeals service for the private parking sector, using the powers granted by the Parking (Code of Practice) Bill should it pass in to law.


Written Question
Armed Forces: DNA
Wednesday 7th February 2018

Asked by: Viscount Astor (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government under which circumstances the sharing of genetic data held by the Ministry of Defence with the police would breach data protection legislation.

Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

All DNA samples taken by the Service Police or Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) in the course of their investigations are analysed and a DNA profile is produced. This profile is then uploaded onto the National DNA Database (NDNAD) and the physical DNA samples are destroyed within six months unless they are required for disclosure as evidence, in which case they may be retained for as long as the need exists under the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 1996. The Service Police and MDP do not maintain their own databases, meaning that any Service Police and MDP DNA searches are carried out against the NDNAD. The retention periods for DNA profiles on the NDNAD depend on the outcome of the investigation, the age of the offender and the type of offence.

Entirely separate from DNA profiles which are uploaded to the NDNAD because of a Service Police or MDP investigation, and which are accessible to all Home Office Police Forces during their investigations, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) maintains DNA reference samples which are voluntarily provided by Service personnel. These are used solely for the identification of deceased Service personnel and to reduce delays for grieving families, when other methods of identification such as visual and dental are not available. Such DNA reference samples are taken by consent, which means the consent given before death remains valid for a DNA sample intended for use after death. The MOD’s voluntary DNA reference sampling policy complies with the Human Tissue Act 2004.

Each DNA reference sample is stored, unanalysed, in an “un-sequenced” physical state, preventing them from being entered onto any database or used for any purposes until authorised by either a Coroner for a post-mortem or as directed by the donor. These voluntary DNA samples will be destroyed upon leaving the Service, at the request of the donor, or after 45 years, whichever is soonest. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 prohibits the un-sequenced DNA voluntarily provided by Service personnel for identification purposes from being released to the Police.


Written Question
Armed Forces: DNA
Wednesday 7th February 2018

Asked by: Viscount Astor (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times in the last ten years the Ministry of Defence has refused to share genetic data relating to serving and retired members of the Armed Forces with the police and prosecuting authorities.

Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

All DNA samples taken by the Service Police or Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) in the course of their investigations are analysed and a DNA profile is produced. This profile is then uploaded onto the National DNA Database (NDNAD) and the physical DNA samples are destroyed within six months unless they are required for disclosure as evidence, in which case they may be retained for as long as the need exists under the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 1996. The Service Police and MDP do not maintain their own databases, meaning that any Service Police and MDP DNA searches are carried out against the NDNAD. The retention periods for DNA profiles on the NDNAD depend on the outcome of the investigation, the age of the offender and the type of offence.

Entirely separate from DNA profiles which are uploaded to the NDNAD because of a Service Police or MDP investigation, and which are accessible to all Home Office Police Forces during their investigations, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) maintains DNA reference samples which are voluntarily provided by Service personnel. These are used solely for the identification of deceased Service personnel and to reduce delays for grieving families, when other methods of identification such as visual and dental are not available. Such DNA reference samples are taken by consent, which means the consent given before death remains valid for a DNA sample intended for use after death. The MOD’s voluntary DNA reference sampling policy complies with the Human Tissue Act 2004.

Each DNA reference sample is stored, unanalysed, in an “un-sequenced” physical state, preventing them from being entered onto any database or used for any purposes until authorised by either a Coroner for a post-mortem or as directed by the donor. These voluntary DNA samples will be destroyed upon leaving the Service, at the request of the donor, or after 45 years, whichever is soonest. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 prohibits the un-sequenced DNA voluntarily provided by Service personnel for identification purposes from being released to the Police.


Written Question
Armed Forces: DNA
Wednesday 7th February 2018

Asked by: Viscount Astor (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Ministry of Defence can share genetic data relating to serving and retired members of the Armed Forces following a request by the police for criminal investigations.

Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

All DNA samples taken by the Service Police or Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) in the course of their investigations are analysed and a DNA profile is produced. This profile is then uploaded onto the National DNA Database (NDNAD) and the physical DNA samples are destroyed within six months unless they are required for disclosure as evidence, in which case they may be retained for as long as the need exists under the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 1996. The Service Police and MDP do not maintain their own databases, meaning that any Service Police and MDP DNA searches are carried out against the NDNAD. The retention periods for DNA profiles on the NDNAD depend on the outcome of the investigation, the age of the offender and the type of offence.

Entirely separate from DNA profiles which are uploaded to the NDNAD because of a Service Police or MDP investigation, and which are accessible to all Home Office Police Forces during their investigations, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) maintains DNA reference samples which are voluntarily provided by Service personnel. These are used solely for the identification of deceased Service personnel and to reduce delays for grieving families, when other methods of identification such as visual and dental are not available. Such DNA reference samples are taken by consent, which means the consent given before death remains valid for a DNA sample intended for use after death. The MOD’s voluntary DNA reference sampling policy complies with the Human Tissue Act 2004.

Each DNA reference sample is stored, unanalysed, in an “un-sequenced” physical state, preventing them from being entered onto any database or used for any purposes until authorised by either a Coroner for a post-mortem or as directed by the donor. These voluntary DNA samples will be destroyed upon leaving the Service, at the request of the donor, or after 45 years, whichever is soonest. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 prohibits the un-sequenced DNA voluntarily provided by Service personnel for identification purposes from being released to the Police.


Written Question
Armed Forces: DNA
Wednesday 7th February 2018

Asked by: Viscount Astor (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how long records of genetic data on members of the Armed Forces are held by the Ministry of Defence.

Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

All DNA samples taken by the Service Police or Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) in the course of their investigations are analysed and a DNA profile is produced. This profile is then uploaded onto the National DNA Database (NDNAD) and the physical DNA samples are destroyed within six months unless they are required for disclosure as evidence, in which case they may be retained for as long as the need exists under the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 1996. The Service Police and MDP do not maintain their own databases, meaning that any Service Police and MDP DNA searches are carried out against the NDNAD. The retention periods for DNA profiles on the NDNAD depend on the outcome of the investigation, the age of the offender and the type of offence.

Entirely separate from DNA profiles which are uploaded to the NDNAD because of a Service Police or MDP investigation, and which are accessible to all Home Office Police Forces during their investigations, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) maintains DNA reference samples which are voluntarily provided by Service personnel. These are used solely for the identification of deceased Service personnel and to reduce delays for grieving families, when other methods of identification such as visual and dental are not available. Such DNA reference samples are taken by consent, which means the consent given before death remains valid for a DNA sample intended for use after death. The MOD’s voluntary DNA reference sampling policy complies with the Human Tissue Act 2004.

Each DNA reference sample is stored, unanalysed, in an “un-sequenced” physical state, preventing them from being entered onto any database or used for any purposes until authorised by either a Coroner for a post-mortem or as directed by the donor. These voluntary DNA samples will be destroyed upon leaving the Service, at the request of the donor, or after 45 years, whichever is soonest. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 prohibits the un-sequenced DNA voluntarily provided by Service personnel for identification purposes from being released to the Police.


Written Question
Armed Forces: DNA
Wednesday 7th February 2018

Asked by: Viscount Astor (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Ministry of Defence refused to share genetic data with the Kent constabulary in relation to an ongoing investigation into burglaries in that area; and, if so why.

Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

All DNA samples taken by the Service Police or Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) in the course of their investigations are analysed and a DNA profile is produced. This profile is then uploaded onto the National DNA Database (NDNAD) and the physical DNA samples are destroyed within six months unless they are required for disclosure as evidence, in which case they may be retained for as long as the need exists under the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 1996. The Service Police and MDP do not maintain their own databases, meaning that any Service Police and MDP DNA searches are carried out against the NDNAD. The retention periods for DNA profiles on the NDNAD depend on the outcome of the investigation, the age of the offender and the type of offence.

Entirely separate from DNA profiles which are uploaded to the NDNAD because of a Service Police or MDP investigation, and which are accessible to all Home Office Police Forces during their investigations, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) maintains DNA reference samples which are voluntarily provided by Service personnel. These are used solely for the identification of deceased Service personnel and to reduce delays for grieving families, when other methods of identification such as visual and dental are not available. Such DNA reference samples are taken by consent, which means the consent given before death remains valid for a DNA sample intended for use after death. The MOD’s voluntary DNA reference sampling policy complies with the Human Tissue Act 2004.

Each DNA reference sample is stored, unanalysed, in an “un-sequenced” physical state, preventing them from being entered onto any database or used for any purposes until authorised by either a Coroner for a post-mortem or as directed by the donor. These voluntary DNA samples will be destroyed upon leaving the Service, at the request of the donor, or after 45 years, whichever is soonest. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 prohibits the un-sequenced DNA voluntarily provided by Service personnel for identification purposes from being released to the Police.


Written Question
Armed Forces: DNA
Wednesday 7th February 2018

Asked by: Viscount Astor (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what protocols are in place to share the genetic data of serving and retired members of the Armed Forces with the police and prosecuting authorities.

Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

All DNA samples taken by the Service Police or Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) in the course of their investigations are analysed and a DNA profile is produced. This profile is then uploaded onto the National DNA Database (NDNAD) and the physical DNA samples are destroyed within six months unless they are required for disclosure as evidence, in which case they may be retained for as long as the need exists under the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 1996. The Service Police and MDP do not maintain their own databases, meaning that any Service Police and MDP DNA searches are carried out against the NDNAD. The retention periods for DNA profiles on the NDNAD depend on the outcome of the investigation, the age of the offender and the type of offence.

Entirely separate from DNA profiles which are uploaded to the NDNAD because of a Service Police or MDP investigation, and which are accessible to all Home Office Police Forces during their investigations, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) maintains DNA reference samples which are voluntarily provided by Service personnel. These are used solely for the identification of deceased Service personnel and to reduce delays for grieving families, when other methods of identification such as visual and dental are not available. Such DNA reference samples are taken by consent, which means the consent given before death remains valid for a DNA sample intended for use after death. The MOD’s voluntary DNA reference sampling policy complies with the Human Tissue Act 2004.

Each DNA reference sample is stored, unanalysed, in an “un-sequenced” physical state, preventing them from being entered onto any database or used for any purposes until authorised by either a Coroner for a post-mortem or as directed by the donor. These voluntary DNA samples will be destroyed upon leaving the Service, at the request of the donor, or after 45 years, whichever is soonest. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 prohibits the un-sequenced DNA voluntarily provided by Service personnel for identification purposes from being released to the Police.


Written Question
High Speed 2 Railway Line: Wendover
Wednesday 9th November 2016

Asked by: Viscount Astor (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have received any evidence from OTB Engineering on whether the Wendover short mined tunnel proposed for HS2 should be cost neutral; and if so, what assessment they have made of that evidence.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

HS2 Ltd received a copy of the OTB Engineering report on 25 October 2016. There is no evidence in the report which would require the current cost estimates prepared by HS2 Ltd to need reviewing.


Written Question
High Speed 2 Railway Line: Wendover
Tuesday 8th November 2016

Asked by: Viscount Astor (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether HS2 Ltd considered examples of HS1 tunnel construction when they examined the case for the Wendover short mined tunnel.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The cost estimates proposals for a mined tunnel past Wendover were based on the specific requirements for the tunnel and topography of the route at this location.


Written Question
High Speed 2 Railway Line: Wendover
Tuesday 8th November 2016

Asked by: Viscount Astor (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether HS2 Ltd used current HM Treasury tunnel project modelling when they costed proposals for the Wendover short mined tunnel.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The cost estimate for the short mined tunnel proposals at Wendover were based on the specific topography at that location, the individual tunnel requirements and the appropriate construction rates.